Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-09-21

[h!1agyf 6
atYhateter happens, you done it"
At 8 I could, bear it no longer and went
to bed. The wind had freshened by this
time, and was blowing freely among the
boughs and branches. But it came from
the right quarter, and it would have to be
O big breeze to keep the Dancing Polly
out Of port when Dan wanted to make it.
Tired with the anxiety and solitude, |
fell asleep the moment my head touched
the pillow. That was partly from habit.
always did. 1t was the last night that
should ever fall into the sweet, childish
custom.
When awoke from confused dreams OF
trouble, which took no intelligble shape,
it was still in the depth of night. There
was no such thing in those days as
matches, and the strike Of q light by
means of the tinder box was no easy mat
ter. Yet could not sleep any more. My
nerves were like quicksilver. l sprang
from my bed, dressed hurriedly in the
dark, tied thick shawl round my head
and neck, and felt my way down stairs
into the open air in front Of the house.
The night was absolutely black. Clouds
had come up over the sky, and there was
. not ray of starlight, not q gGmmer on
the sea. 1t was only possible to make out
on the left the steep outline OF Pinhay
cliff, and on the right little Of the long
line of rock-nothing else. But the wind
blew fresh into my face, and heard the
roar of the waves dragging down the
shingle and rolling it up again, and that
was companionship to me.
sat there in front Of the house, watch
ing the darkness and thinking. 1t was
better to be out in the open, listening to
the voice of the waves, than boxed up in
bedroom, prey to every sort of fear.
Presently arose and went out in the
dark, down the steep path that led to the
beach. knew every step, and needed no
light to guide me over the rough way.
But about half way down heard another
step ON the path below me-the step OF one
person. 1t was too dark to see anything,
but I thought Of Joshua. 1t must be
Joshua come to help unload the cargo.
Natural that he should come to look after
the venture in which he had share. I
had no desire to speak with him, so I
stayed where was, stepping off the path,
and sat down on the hillside to wait.
And then-good heavens! what did it
mean?-there came more steps; steps in
the distance, steps in the road above, the
confused tramp of many feet upon the
stones of the rough lane which led from
Axemouth to Rousdon. Whose could
these be? And what could they want,
coming to Rousdon bay at 3 in the morn
ing?
was standing on ledge Of rock over
hanging the path from the house to the
beach. BY laying along the ledge could
look over the heads Of these men as they
came down the hill, and almost touch
them. I waited while they passed by the
silent house. They did not stop there;
evidently they had no business with its
occupants; and then a pang Of terror
struck my heart, for reflected that I was
the only occupant; and although they
might have no business with me, they
might have with those who ought to have
been there that night. lay down on the
rock and cautiously looked over through
the branches of bramble.
It was not so dark but could distin-
guish the figures of the men as they came
down the zigzag path, and slowly felt
their way along the steep and narrow way
beneath me. 1t was not so dark but I
could count that there were sixteen of
them, and I could hear the clash of arms.
Then I knew, without being told or want
ing to see any more, what they were and
what was their errand.
They were the revenue men; they had
got the intelligence of Dams run; they
were come to catch him at the moment Of
landing-in the very act of running his
cargo ashore.
thought, by the feel of the mir and the
look of the sky, that it must be near upon
3 o'clock-say an hour and half be-
fore daybreak. That is to say, it was the
very time which Dan would choose, had he
favorable wind, for landing. And the wind
was favorable-a steady, strong south
wester, before which the Dancing Polly
would fly. There could be no doubt that he
was off the coast already.
1t seemed to me there was just one
chance-and only ore. The revenue men
were all down on the beach at the west
were carried away afterward in the great
landslip. Suppose could get, unseen, to
the point of land which ran out-just
little point-on the east, and shout an
alarm at the moment when the Dancing
Polly neared the mouth Of tie bay.
1t was the only chance. I knew every
rock, and LEDGE, and stone about the place.
l had no nee 70 get down by the path.
I slid, jumped and crept, working my
way round the bay, so as to get to the
point unnoticed.
That was easy. L dare say the men
were all half asleep; the night was very
dark, and my figure could hardly be made
out against the black masses of rock and
overhauging brambles. I arrived at the
point, and, crouched behind stone, sat
watching intently the black waves close
at my feet and the black sky above me.
It grew cold, as it always does before
the dawn, but I felt nothing; in the in
tense moments of life one does not think
of such things. prayed that Dan might
be late, and that the day might break, SO
that he should be able to see me before he
made his port. For, once in the bay,
which was, as have said, but tiny
creek, there was no room to turn, and the
opportunity would be lost.
Alas! that hope failed.
While 1 sat watching, and almost be-
fore I had time to make her out, the
Dancing Polly came up out of the black
ness of the night, steering straight for
the mouth of the bay.
sprang up, and shrieked, and waved
my arms.
'Back, Dan, back! hard a port"'
1t was no use. Dan saw me on the
point, but her bows were already in the
creek. Job and Jephthah ran down the
canvas, and the boat grounded on the
| beach.
The Dancing Polly had made her last
run.
ran round the bay for my life, spring
ing from stone to stone in the dark, cry
ing, "Dan, DAM they are waiting for you
Run! oh, run, run! Will, run!'
There was shout, rush, the sudden
flashing of dark lanterns. 'In the king
name," shouted rough voice, "surren'
dern'
When I got round they had secured
their prisoners All four were hand
cuffed, and the men were standing round
| them in q ring. I broke through them,